Medina, Ohio – August, 7, 2019 - Fire-Dex announced today the acquisition of Gear Wash, a verified Independent Service Provider (ISP) of clean and repair services, based out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Fire-Dex is a global, family-owned manufacturer of personal protective equipment (PPE) for first responders, including turnout gear, rescue PPE, boots, hoods, gloves and helmets. This acquisition will allow Fire-Dex to provide NFPA 1851 clean and repair maintenance for these products. Gear Wash operations will remain in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where they have a vast reach across the greater Midwest.

“The new edition of the NFPA 1851 standard will require fire departments to do more advanced cleaning of PPE that is worn on the fireground and we want to do our part,” said Steve Allison, President at Fire-Dex. “We are dedicated to the health and safety of firefighters and this acquisition will help us take another step towards combating carcinogen exposure.”

Over the years, Fire-Dex has led the industry in addressing heat stress and carcinogen exposure. As a continuation of those efforts, Fire-Dex will also sell advance cleaning products to mitigate contamination exposure risks.

“The Gear Wash team is excited to join the Fire-Dex family and welcomes the opportunity to contribute to Fire-Dex’s continued success,” said Andy Oliver, previous Owner of Gear Wash and now acting President. “We look forward to leveraging Fire-Dex’s worldwide sales network and believe our platform can be scaled up to meet their customers' service demands.”

“Andy has been a true leader in the PPE care and maintenance market and has been an active participant in the development of the NFPA 1851 safety standard," said Bill Burke, CEO at Fire-Dex. "We are thrilled to have him as part of the Fire-Dex family.” 

In the last few years, Fire-Dex has seen tremendous growth, acquiring two major brands TECGEN in 2015 and now Gear Wash in 2019. Just last year, Fire-Dex expanded operations into Pelham, GA and doubled the footprint of their headquarters in Medina, Ohio.

About Gear Wash

Founded in 2002, Gear Wash is a leading UL Verified Independent Service Provider (ISP) dedicated to PPE care and maintenance services. Gear Wash specializes in advanced cleaning, advanced inspections, advanced repair, alteration, and customization services that meet industry established standards and manufacturer requirements. Visit www.gearwash.com for more information.

About Fire-Dex

Fire-Dex, headquartered in Medina, Ohio, is a leading manufacturer of head-to-toe protection for first responders, including turnout gear, rescue PPE, boots, hoods, gloves and helmets. With a strong emphasis on health and safety, Fire-Dex has paved the path of innovation since 1983 for the manufacturing of firefighting gear while focusing on the continuous improvement of our products and processes. Visit www.firedex.com for more information.

###

Media Contact

Jenny McPherson, Marketing Manager | jennymcpherson@firedex.com | 330.723.0000